For those of you who, like me, have a love of the literary and are never happier than when leafing through a dusty tome, World Book Night is a chance to tweet with other book lovers across the globe. Blackpool Libraries have once again stepped up to the plate with events and activities for this global dip through the pages.
I spoke to librarian and twitterphile Michelle Kane ahead of their World Book Night Twitter Book Club, which took place last night, for all the details.
So, Twitter Book Club. What is it exactly?
Book clubs are hugely popular at the moment but our lives are increasingly complex and busy and sometimes you just want a night in. So here’s the alternative. You can get in from work, collapse onto the sofa and still have a social night discussing books. Using #bookpool you can follow the conversation and get involved. People can then interact with one another. They can reply to a point that another individual makes or they can reply to @bpoollibraries.
We’re hoping that a conversation will naturally evolve which will bring together book lovers from across Blackpool and beyond. What better way to spend World Book Night?
I prefer actual books. Is this a Kindle kind of thing? Do I need a computer?
You can read the book in any format you prefer. We have plenty of physical copies to loan from your local library. We also have e-book versions available to download. The choice is yours. You will need a computer or a smart phone to access your Twitter account on the night.
What book will we be reading?
We asked our Twitter followers to take a look at this year’s World Book Night Books and vote for which book they would like to read. They chose The Humans by Matt Haig (@matthaig1).
What is World Book Night?
World Book Night is an annual event run by The Reading Agency (@readingagency). Its purpose is to share and celebrate our love of books and reading. Reading for pleasure is hugely beneficial. World Book Night is a way for people to try and encourage others to get back into reading.
What is your favourite book and why should I read it?
This is a difficult one for me. I love so many books it is truly hard to pick a favourite. At the moment I love The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness. This is a magical retelling of a Japanese folk tale (inspired by a Decemberist song). But ask me tomorrow and the answer will probably be different.
With bookshops closing left right and centre, the library is more vital than ever. What can be done, in your opinion, to champion this wonderful resource?
The best way to champion your local library is to use it. Not been for a while? Why not come in and have a look? We offer access to thousands of books, study space, computers and WiFi. We have kid’s clubs, activity days, workshops, author talks and so much more.
The Twitter Book Club was a one-off event for World Book Night but if you love the idea, why not let the Blackpool Libraries team know by sending them a Tweet, an email or even dropping in. The event will be reviewed and could become a regular feature. And if you’d like to know what a Twitter Book Club looks like in action, here’s how it went down on Wednesday night.
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